U.S. patent application number 12/236898 was filed with the patent office on 2009-05-28 for monitor support device.
Invention is credited to Ming-Hsien Huang.
Application Number | 20090134285 12/236898 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40227376 |
Filed Date | 2009-05-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090134285 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Huang; Ming-Hsien |
May 28, 2009 |
Monitor Support Device
Abstract
A monitor support device includes a base, an upright rod that
projects upwardly from the base, a first support arm that is
pivotable about and movable along the upright rod and that is
adapted for supporting a monitor thereon, and a second support arm
that is pivotable about the upright rod, that is movable relative
to the first support arm along the upright rod, and that is adapted
for supporting another monitor thereon.
Inventors: |
Huang; Ming-Hsien; (Taipei
Hsien, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FROMMER LAWRENCE & HAUG LLP
745 FIFTH AVENUE
NEW YORK
NY
10151
US
|
Family ID: |
40227376 |
Appl. No.: |
12/236898 |
Filed: |
September 24, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/124.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16M 11/2014 20130101;
Y10S 248/92 20130101; F16M 11/24 20130101; F16M 11/08 20130101;
F16M 11/2085 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/124.1 |
International
Class: |
F16M 11/08 20060101
F16M011/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 22, 2007 |
TW |
096219749 |
Claims
1. A monitor support device comprising: a base; an upright rod
projecting upwardly from said base; a first support arm pivotable
about and movable along said upright rod, and adapted for
supporting a monitor thereon; and a second support arm pivotable
about said upright rod, movable relative to said first support arm
along said upright rod, and adapted for supporting another monitor
thereon.
2. The monitor support device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said
first support arm has a first pivot portion formed at one end
thereof and connected pivotally and movably to said upright rod,
and a first extending portion extending horizontally from said
first pivot portion; and said second support arm has a second pivot
portion formed at one end thereof and connected pivotally and
movably to said upright rod, and a second extending portion
extending horizontally from said second pivot portion.
3. The monitor support device as claimed in claim 2, wherein: said
first pivot portion of said first support arm has a first
surrounding wall made of a flexible material, surrounding said
upright rod, and defining a first rod hole through which said
upright rod extends, said first pivot portion being provided with a
first locking component movable between an unlocking position,
where said first surrounding wall is permitted to move along said
upright rod, and a locking position so as to constrict said first
rod hole such that said first surrounding wall is secured on said
upright rod; and said second pivot portion of said second support
arm has a second surrounding wall made of a flexible material,
surrounding said upright rod, and defining a second rod hole
through which said upright rod extends, said second pivot portion
being provided with a second locking component movable between an
unlocking position, where said second surrounding wall is permitted
to move along said upright rod, and a locking position so as to
constrict said second rod hole such that said second surrounding
wall is secured on said upright rod.
4. The monitor support device as claimed in claim 3, wherein: said
first surrounding wall of said first pivot portion of said first
support arm has a first initial section connected to said first
extending portion of said first support arm, a first end section
spaced slightly apart from said first initial section, and a first
intermediate section interconnecting said first initial section and
said first end section and defining said first rod hole; said first
locking component extends through said first initial section and
said first end section, and draws said first end section toward
said first initial section when moved from the unlocking position
to the locking position so as to constrict said first rod hole;
said second surrounding wall of said second pivot portion of said
second support arm has a second initial section connected to said
second extending portion of said second support arm, a second end
section spaced slightly apart from said second initial section, and
a second intermediate section interconnecting said second initial
section and said second end section and defining said second rod
hole; and said second locking component extends through said second
initial section and said second end section, and draws said second
end section toward said second initial section when moved from the
unlocking position to the locking position so as to constrict said
second rod hole.
5. The monitor support device as claimed in claim 4, wherein each
of said first and second locking components is a screw.
6. The monitor support device as claimed in claim 3, wherein: said
first surrounding wall of said first pivot portion of said first
support arm has a bottom surface; said second surrounding wall of
said second pivot portion of said second support arm is disposed
below said first surrounding wall, and has a top surface that
confronts said bottom surface of said first surrounding wall; one
of said bottom surface of said first surrounding wall and said top
surface of said second surrounding wall is formed with an engaging
block protruding therefrom; and the other one of said bottom
surface of said first surrounding wall and said top surface of said
second surrounding wall is formed with an engaging groove for
receiving slidably said engaging block therein when said first and
second pivot portions are coupled together.
7. The monitor support device as claimed in claim 3, further
comprising a pair of collars, one of said collars being disposed
between said first surrounding wall of said first pivot portion of
said first support arm and said upright rod for enhancing friction
between said first surrounding wall and said upright rod when said
first locking component is at the locking position, the other one
of said collars being disposed between said second surrounding wall
of said second pivot portion of said second support arm and said
upright rod for enhancing friction between said second surrounding
wall and said upright rod when said second locking component is at
the locking position.
8. The monitor support device as claimed in claim 2, wherein: each
of said first extending portion of said first support arm and said
second extending portion of said second support arm is formed with
an elongated slot that extends horizontally; and said monitor
support device further comprises a pair of monitor engaging
components, each of which engages slidably said elongated slot of a
respective one of said first and second extending portions.
9. The monitor support device as claimed in claim 8, wherein each
of said monitor engaging components has a sliding part extending
slidably through said elongated slot of the respective one of said
first extending portion of said first support arm and said second
extending portion of said second support arm, and a rotatable part
connected to and rotatable relative to said sliding part and
adapted for mounting the monitor thereon.
10. The monitor support device as claimed in claim 3, further
comprising a limiting component secured on said upright rod under
said first surrounding wall of said first pivot portion of said
first support arm and said second surrounding wall of said second
pivot portion of said second support arm, said limiting component
having a diameter larger than that of each of said first rod hole
in said first support arm and said second rod hole in said second
support arm.
11. The monitor support device as claimed in claim 10, further
comprising a cable organizing member coupled detachably on said
upright rod under said limiting component.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application
No. 096219749, filed on Nov. 22, 2007.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates to a monitor support device, more
particularly to a monitor support device that can support a
plurality of monitors thereon.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Operating system software generally has a function of
supporting multiple monitors. When using the operating system
software with multiple monitors, these monitors are placed adjacent
to each other in front of a user. However, if the user changes his
position and each of these monitors is supported individually on a
monitor stand, the user has to adjust the positions or orientations
of the monitors separately, which is time-consuming and
inconvenient.
[0006] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional monitor support
device 9 includes a base 91, an upright rod 92 projecting upwardly
from the base 91, a support arm 93 pivotable about the upright rod
92, and a pair of monitor engaging members 94. The support arm 93
is formed with a pair of horizontal slots 931 at opposite parts
thereof with respect to the upright rod 92. Each of the monitor
engaging members 94 engages slidably a respective one of the
horizontal slots 931, and has a sliding part 941 extending slidably
through the respective one of the horizontal slots 931, and a
rotatable part 942 connected to and rotatable relative to the
sliding part 941 and adapted for mounting a monitor 8 thereon. In
use, the user can adjust the positions and orientations of the
monitors 8 simultaneously by rotating the support arm 93 about the
upright rod 92. Moreover, the user can rotate the rotatable part
942 of one of the monitor engaging members 94 to adjust the
orientation of the monitor 8 mounted thereon relative to that of
the monitor 8 mounted on the other one of the monitor engaging
members 94.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a monitor
support device that is capable of supporting a plurality of
monitors thereon, and that permits adjustment of positions and
orientations of the monitors.
[0008] Accordingly, a monitor support device of the present
invention comprises a base, an upright rod that projects upwardly
from the base, a first support arm that is pivotable about and
movable along the upright rod and that is adapted for supporting a
monitor thereon, and a second support arm that is pivotable about
the upright rod, that is movable relative to the first support arm
along the upright rod, and that is adapted for supporting another
monitor thereon.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent in the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings,
of which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a rear view of a conventional monitor support
device;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a top view of the conventional monitor support
device;
[0012] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a first preferred
embodiment of a monitor support device according to the
invention;
[0013] FIG. 4 is an assembled perspective view of the first
preferred embodiment;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a front view of the first preferred
embodiment;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a top view of the first preferred embodiment;
[0016] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the first preferred
embodiment when supporting a pair of monitors thereon; and
[0017] FIG. 8 is an assembled perspective view of a second
preferred embodiment of the monitor support device according to the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] Before the present invention is described in greater detail,
it should be noted that like elements are denoted by the same
reference numerals throughout the disclosure.
[0019] As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 7, the first preferred
embodiment of a monitor support device according to the present
invention comprises a base 1, an upright rod 2 that projects
upwardly from the base 1, a first support arm 3 that is pivotable
about and movable along the upright rod 2 and that is adapted for
supporting a monitor 11 thereon, and a second support arm 4 that is
pivotable about the upright rod 2, that is movable relative to the
first support arm 3 along the upright rod 2, and that is adapted
for supporting another monitor 11 thereon.
[0020] The first support arm 3 has a first pivot portion 31 formed
at one end thereof and connected pivotally and movably to the
upright rod 2, and a first extending portion 32 extending
horizontally from the first pivot portion 31. In this embodiment,
the first pivot portion 31 has a first surrounding wall 311 made of
a flexible material and surrounding the upright rod 2. The first
surrounding wall 311 has a first initial section 313 connected to
the first extending portion 32, a first end section 314 spaced
slightly apart from the first initial section 313, and a first
intermediate section 315 interconnecting the first initial section
313 and the first end section 314 and defining a first rod hole 312
through which the upright rod 2 extends.
[0021] The second support arm 4 has a second pivot portion 41
formed at one end thereof and connected pivotally and movably to
the upright rod 2, and a second extending portion 42 extending
horizontally from the second pivot portion 41. In this embodiment,
the second pivot portion 41 has a second surrounding wall 411 made
of a flexible material and surrounding the upright rod 2. The
second surrounding wall 411 has a second initial section 413
connected to the second extending portion 42, a second end section
414 spaced slightly apart from the second initial section 413, and
a second intermediate section 415 interconnecting the second
initial section 413 and the second end section 414 and defining a
second rod hole 412 through which the upright rod 2 extends.
[0022] The first pivot portion 31 of the first support arm 3 is
provided with a first locking component 61 extending through the
first initial section 313 and the first end section 314 of the
first surrounding wall 311, and movable between an unlocking
position (not shown), where the first surrounding wall 311 is
permitted to move along the upright rod 2, and a locking position
(see FIGS. 5 and 6), where the first locking component 61 draws the
first end section 314 toward the first initial section 313 so as to
constrict the first rod hole 312, such that the first surrounding
wall 311 is secured on the upright rod 2 due to friction between
the first surrounding wall 311 and the upright rod 2.
[0023] The second pivot portion 41 of the second support arm 4 is
provided with a second locking component 62 extending through the
second initial section 413 and the second end section 414 of the
second surrounding wall 411, and movable between an unlocking
position (not shown), where the second surrounding wall 411 is
permitted to move along the upright rod 2, and a locking position
(see FIGS. 5 and 6), where the second locking component 62 draws
the second end section 414 toward the second initial section 413 so
as to constrict the second rod hole 412, such that the second
surrounding wall 411 is secured on the upright rod 2 due to
friction between the second surrounding wall 411 and the upright
rod 2. In this embodiment, each of the first and second locking
components 61, 62 is a screw, but may be other types of fasteners
that can constrict the first and second rod holes 312, 412 in other
embodiments of this invention.
[0024] In this embodiment, the first surrounding wall 311 of the
first pivot portion 31 of the first support arm 3 has a bottom
surface 316, and the second surrounding wall 411 of the second
pivot portion 41 of the second support arm 4 is disposed below the
first surrounding wall 311 and has a top surface 416 that confronts
the bottom surface 316. The bottom surface 316 of the first
surrounding wall 311 is formed with a first engaging block 34
protruding therefrom. The top surface 416 of the second surrounding
wall 411 is formed with a second engaging block 44 protruding
therefrom. The bottom surface 316 is further formed with a first
engaging groove 33 angularly spaced apart from the first engaging
block 34 and having an arc length longer than that of the second
engaging block 44. The top surface 416 is further formed with a
second engaging groove 43 angularly spaced apart from the second
engaging block 44 and having an arc length longer than that of the
first engaging block 34. Therefore, when the first pivot portion 31
of the first support arm 3 and the second pivot portion 41 of the
second support arm 4 are moved along the upright rod 2 to be
coupled together, the first engaging groove 33 receives slidably
the second engaging block 44 therein, while the second engaging
groove 43 receives slidably the first engaging block 34 therein,
such that an angle formed between the first and second support arms
3, 4 is limited, thereby avoiding damage to the monitors 11 that
are mounted thereon by preventing collision between the monitors 11
when the first and second support arms 3, 4 are pivoted about the
upright rod 2.
[0025] The monitor support device of the first preferred embodiment
further comprises a pair of collars 7 made of a material that is
softer than those of the upright rod 2 and the first and the second
surrounding walls 311, 411. One of the collars 7 is disposed
between the first surrounding wall 311 of the first pivot portion
31 of the first support arm 3 and the upright rod 2 for enhancing
friction between the first surrounding wall 311 and the upright rod
2 when the first locking component 61 is at the locking position.
The other one of the collars 7 is disposed between the second
surrounding wall 411 of the second pivot portion 41 of the second
support arm 4 and the upright rod 2 for enhancing friction between
the second surrounding wall 411 and the upright rod 2 when the
second locking component 62 is at the locking position.
[0026] Referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 6, the first extending portion
32 of the first support arm 3 is formed with a first elongated slot
321 that extends horizontally, and the second extending portion 42
of the second support arm 4 is formed with a second elongated slot
421 that extends horizontally. The monitor support device of the
first preferred embodiment further comprises a pair of monitor
engaging components 5, each of which engages slidably a respective
one of the first and second elongated slots 321, 421. In this
embodiment, each of the monitor engaging components 5 has a sliding
part 51 extending slidably through the respective one of the first
and second elongated slots 321, 421, and a rotatable part 52
connected to and rotatable relative to the sliding part 51 and
adapted for mounting the monitor 11 thereon.
[0027] In this embodiment, the monitor support device further
comprises a limiting component 21 sleeved securely on the upright
rod 2 under the first surrounding wall 311 of the first pivot
portion 31 of the first support arm 3. The limiting component 21
has a diameter larger than that of each of the first rod hole 312
in the first support arm 3 and the second rod hole 412 in the
second support arm 4 so as to limit the lowermost positions of the
first and second support arms 3, 4 along the upright rod 2.
[0028] The monitor support device of the first preferred embodiment
further comprises a cable organizing member 22 coupled detachably
on the upright rod 2 under the limiting component 21.
[0029] Compared to the conventional monitor support device 9
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first and second support arms 3,
4 can be moved separately along the upright rod 2, so that the
monitors 11 mounted thereon can be secured at different heights
relative to the base 1. Moreover, the orientations of the monitors
11 can be individually adjusted through pivoting movements of the
first and second support arms 3, 4 and rotary movements of the
rotatable parts 52 of the monitor engaging components 5. Therefore,
the monitor support device of this embodiment offers greater
flexibility during use.
[0030] As shown in FIG. 8, the second preferred embodiment of the
monitor support device according to the present invention has a
structure similar to that of the first embodiment. The main
difference between this embodiment and the previous embodiment
resides in the following. In this embodiment, the monitor support
device further comprises a third support arm 300 identical in
structure to the first support arm 3, and a fourth support arm 400
identical in structure to the second support arm 4. The third
support arm 300 is pivotable about and movable along the upright
rod 2 above the first and second support arms 3, 4. The fourth
support arm 400 is pivotable about the upright rod 2 above the
first and second support arms 3, 4 and is movable relative to the
third support arm 300. The monitor support device of this
embodiment further comprises a pair of monitor engaging components
500 that engage slidably and respectively the third and fourth
support arms 300, 400. The second preferred embodiment further
enhances the flexibility during use.
[0031] While the present invention has been described in connection
with what are considered the most practical and preferred
embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to
the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various
arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and
equivalent arrangements.
* * * * *